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Divinity
When Julia climbs into a flaming car to save a trapped child, she's left wondering why either of them survived. Then she learns that her father is the Archangel Gabriel, and that she is half human, half Archangel. With guidance from Michael, the most powerful Archangel, Julia sets out to discover her own history and explore her angelic powers. But her journey is cut short when an evil force, invisible to human and angel alike, tears her world apart. Now Julia must fight through her despair, harness her newfound gifts, and risk her very soul to stop the A'nwel and protect the family she never knew she had. What she doesn't know is that Archangels have secrets too.
385 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2014
4 people are currently reading
852 people want to read
About the author
Michelle L. Johnson
5 books73 followersMichelle L. Johnson is the author of DIVINITY, a supernatural urban fantasy, and the author of THE FOOTLOOSE KILLER, a mystery. She's also a literary agent, a coffee lover beyond reason, and has a fascination with the workings of the human mind.
Her key influences have been Stephen King, Anne Rice, and C.S. Lewis, but is inspired by every author to put pen to paper.
Michelle lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her muse and her rambunctious Cocker Spaniel, Sammy.
Her key influences have been Stephen King, Anne Rice, and C.S. Lewis, but is inspired by every author to put pen to paper.
Michelle lives in Jacksonville, Florida with her muse and her rambunctious Cocker Spaniel, Sammy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
August 31, 2014
Julia saves an infant from a burning car to discover that she is the daughter of archangel Gabriel.
She finds out that the angels have been watching over her for her lifetime. She was abused as a child by her step-brother..the answer for that? She had to suffer to learn about humanity. Yeah..ok
There is a ton of info dumping in this book. Then you have the creep archangels watching her every move.
Don't let her get attached to some one! That is the kiss of death in this book. We can't have any attachments to the humans!
I have no clue why I finished this book.
There were a couple of parts that I enjoyed. Her relationship with her boyfriend wasn't horrible.
Then there was the explanation of the other angels children that have walked on earth. Including one of my heroes.
It just couldn't save the rest of this mess.
The story jumped around and that ending? Let's just drop off the story in the middle of nowhere. That works..NOT!!
I think I need an award for making it through this. I'm gonna go eat a cookie.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
She finds out that the angels have been watching over her for her lifetime. She was abused as a child by her step-brother..the answer for that? She had to suffer to learn about humanity. Yeah..ok
There is a ton of info dumping in this book. Then you have the creep archangels watching her every move.
Don't let her get attached to some one! That is the kiss of death in this book. We can't have any attachments to the humans!
I have no clue why I finished this book.
There were a couple of parts that I enjoyed. Her relationship with her boyfriend wasn't horrible.
Then there was the explanation of the other angels children that have walked on earth. Including one of my heroes.
It just couldn't save the rest of this mess.
The story jumped around and that ending? Let's just drop off the story in the middle of nowhere. That works..NOT!!
I think I need an award for making it through this. I'm gonna go eat a cookie.
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Netgalley.
May 19, 2014
I don't want to rate it yet because I want to do the purchased copy when it comes but I'll just say that I read once that if you sign a book or agree to work with someone on a book- you have to be willing to read it dozens of times. This is the kind of book you WANT to read over and over. The kind that offers new details every time you go back and makes you want to know what is next. It's beautiful.
August 7, 2023
//This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The initial thing that attracted me to this book were the archangels. I can’t really remember whether or not I’ve read a book about them before (which most likely means I haven’t), but Divinity just set the bar for all the future ones!
Julia Samson is the main character in this book. From the start, we see that Julia’s life wasn’t easy. She was born with the name of “Sera” (such a pretty name!), but ended up being adopted as a child by her uncle, Bill Samson and his wife Nathalie (hence name change). Her biological mother was defined as crazy and had to be put in an asylum. Julia never knew who her father was and even her birth certificate said unknown. Little did she know that she was in fact only half human, whilst the other half was given to her by her archangel father, Gabriel.
Julia didn’t associate with a lot of people. She had her boyfriend named Alex Williams, who was a seemingly good guy. He seemed to really care about her, he even went as far as stand up for her against his own mother (God bless) (not that she listened either) (she wasn’t that bad, honestly). Her best friend was Charlie, a pregnant Australian woman with an abusive boyfriend she met on Facebook three years prior during a Texas Hold Em game (can I just say that my dad’s obsession with that game is/was ridiculous).
I think Michelle L. Johnson did a good job on portraying the different characters. I liked how we got to know Julia piece by piece as she was slowly figuring out who and what she was along the way herself. It sort of felt like I, as the reader, was figuring out who I was, because I didn’t really know anything. Though I must admit that Julia having a picture framed of a random family is a bit sad. I read the entire book and I still feel sad about that. The progression and character development was good. One example for this is Isabel Williams, Alex’s mother, who seemed like she didn’t like Julia at all, though you later on figure out that it wasn’t really that at all.
The story was captivating. So captivating that I actually read it in one sitting, which is something I haven’t done in quite some time! I felt like there were tiny hints along the way, for instance when Julia was little she had a dog who one time looked like it had human eyes. Julia’s adoptive-mother (aunt) therefore named the dog Gabriel. Coincidence? I think not. The book was so well formulated and laid out. It raised some questions, it made you both think and see what was happening.
One comment that I might have about this book is about the part where Julia sees Gabriel for the “first” time. He obviously seemed familiar to her and she knew his name, but at the same time, when you see mist forming above you and there’s suddenly a person in front of you ISN’T IT NORMAL TO FREAK OUT? Did her archangel blood kick in at that point? I don’t know. I would’ve gotten really scared! (maybe this is a sign that I’m definitely a chicken)
For those who like fantasy, you should definitely check it one out. It was interesting from start to finish, and you’ll most likely wonder why it’s no longer dark outside because you lost track of time.
In the end Divinity kind of played with my feelings. Not only was it overwhelmingly exciting, but it was also an adventure. Isabel’s words to Julia which where something along the lines of “you have a family now” was wonderful.
The initial thing that attracted me to this book were the archangels. I can’t really remember whether or not I’ve read a book about them before (which most likely means I haven’t), but Divinity just set the bar for all the future ones!
Julia Samson is the main character in this book. From the start, we see that Julia’s life wasn’t easy. She was born with the name of “Sera” (such a pretty name!), but ended up being adopted as a child by her uncle, Bill Samson and his wife Nathalie (hence name change). Her biological mother was defined as crazy and had to be put in an asylum. Julia never knew who her father was and even her birth certificate said unknown. Little did she know that she was in fact only half human, whilst the other half was given to her by her archangel father, Gabriel.
Julia didn’t associate with a lot of people. She had her boyfriend named Alex Williams, who was a seemingly good guy. He seemed to really care about her, he even went as far as stand up for her against his own mother (God bless) (not that she listened either) (she wasn’t that bad, honestly). Her best friend was Charlie, a pregnant Australian woman with an abusive boyfriend she met on Facebook three years prior during a Texas Hold Em game (can I just say that my dad’s obsession with that game is/was ridiculous).
I think Michelle L. Johnson did a good job on portraying the different characters. I liked how we got to know Julia piece by piece as she was slowly figuring out who and what she was along the way herself. It sort of felt like I, as the reader, was figuring out who I was, because I didn’t really know anything. Though I must admit that Julia having a picture framed of a random family is a bit sad. I read the entire book and I still feel sad about that. The progression and character development was good. One example for this is Isabel Williams, Alex’s mother, who seemed like she didn’t like Julia at all, though you later on figure out that it wasn’t really that at all.
The story was captivating. So captivating that I actually read it in one sitting, which is something I haven’t done in quite some time! I felt like there were tiny hints along the way, for instance when Julia was little she had a dog who one time looked like it had human eyes. Julia’s adoptive-mother (aunt) therefore named the dog Gabriel. Coincidence? I think not. The book was so well formulated and laid out. It raised some questions, it made you both think and see what was happening.
One comment that I might have about this book is about the part where Julia sees Gabriel for the “first” time. He obviously seemed familiar to her and she knew his name, but at the same time, when you see mist forming above you and there’s suddenly a person in front of you ISN’T IT NORMAL TO FREAK OUT? Did her archangel blood kick in at that point? I don’t know. I would’ve gotten really scared! (maybe this is a sign that I’m definitely a chicken)
For those who like fantasy, you should definitely check it one out. It was interesting from start to finish, and you’ll most likely wonder why it’s no longer dark outside because you lost track of time.
In the end Divinity kind of played with my feelings. Not only was it overwhelmingly exciting, but it was also an adventure. Isabel’s words to Julia which where something along the lines of “you have a family now” was wonderful.
September 17, 2014
Adult Urban Fantasy at its best!
WOW. WOW! DIVINITY just blew my mind. Changed the way I look at the world, and all of the unexplainable things we encounter every day.
I won't give you a re-cap of the synopsis here. Pick up this book and get ready for an intellectual, mature Urban Fantasy story. Michelle L. Johnson's vivid details, flawless writing, and smooth integration of the speculative into reality make her an emerging force in the genre that's going to rock the Urban Fantasy world, and push it to higher standards than it's ever met before.
This book is not some casual, teenaged-angel TV drama. This is a smart, adult story with seamless writing, gorgeous imagery, and raw emotion that will leave you gutted at first, and then a little bit hopeful, and then full-on, Kindle-clenching, spine-bendingly gripped by suspense as the action takes twists and turns. I don't typically find angel stories terribly believable, but DIVINITY is realistic to the very last page. I felt like I was right there with Julia as she experienced her true nature revealed.
DIVINITY goes deep. Way deep. Touching on many subjects that average paranormal/UF books shy away from, Michelle L. Johnson takes us on a journey that digs into the most difficult moments in life: abuse, abandonment, and the heartache that comes alongside not really knowing where you come from. Yet through all the pain, there is light... Julia finds hope and strength within herself. This isn't a story where the heroine meets some guy that fixes all her problems. When Julia meets the Archangels, her problems multiply, and so must her inner strength in response. She's a sophisticated heroine who has been through some terribly dark times, and must emerge stronger than ever before.
The Archangels speak in a manner that clearly separates them from being human. I love this aspect of DIVINITY. When you read the Archangel point of view chapters, you're immersed in a world that you've imagined a few times through stories growing up, but never truly seen until now. You see it in DIVINITY. You're right there with the Archangels, overwhelmed by their majestic power, enveloped in their wings, and in awe of their mystique.
Julia had everything I beg for in a heroine. She's tender and yet strong, and when disaster strikes, you feel every moment of her pain. But then you feel her anger, too. Her determination. Her hope. I was cheering for her every step of the way.
I hear there is a sequel to this story! Michelle. GET IT TO US NOW!!!!! Michelle L. Johnson has set us up in a multi-layered, complex, and yet thoroughly integrated world of the balance between mankind and the Divine, and I can't wait to embark on the next journey Julia takes.
Five stars!
WOW. WOW! DIVINITY just blew my mind. Changed the way I look at the world, and all of the unexplainable things we encounter every day.
I won't give you a re-cap of the synopsis here. Pick up this book and get ready for an intellectual, mature Urban Fantasy story. Michelle L. Johnson's vivid details, flawless writing, and smooth integration of the speculative into reality make her an emerging force in the genre that's going to rock the Urban Fantasy world, and push it to higher standards than it's ever met before.
This book is not some casual, teenaged-angel TV drama. This is a smart, adult story with seamless writing, gorgeous imagery, and raw emotion that will leave you gutted at first, and then a little bit hopeful, and then full-on, Kindle-clenching, spine-bendingly gripped by suspense as the action takes twists and turns. I don't typically find angel stories terribly believable, but DIVINITY is realistic to the very last page. I felt like I was right there with Julia as she experienced her true nature revealed.
DIVINITY goes deep. Way deep. Touching on many subjects that average paranormal/UF books shy away from, Michelle L. Johnson takes us on a journey that digs into the most difficult moments in life: abuse, abandonment, and the heartache that comes alongside not really knowing where you come from. Yet through all the pain, there is light... Julia finds hope and strength within herself. This isn't a story where the heroine meets some guy that fixes all her problems. When Julia meets the Archangels, her problems multiply, and so must her inner strength in response. She's a sophisticated heroine who has been through some terribly dark times, and must emerge stronger than ever before.
The Archangels speak in a manner that clearly separates them from being human. I love this aspect of DIVINITY. When you read the Archangel point of view chapters, you're immersed in a world that you've imagined a few times through stories growing up, but never truly seen until now. You see it in DIVINITY. You're right there with the Archangels, overwhelmed by their majestic power, enveloped in their wings, and in awe of their mystique.
Julia had everything I beg for in a heroine. She's tender and yet strong, and when disaster strikes, you feel every moment of her pain. But then you feel her anger, too. Her determination. Her hope. I was cheering for her every step of the way.
I hear there is a sequel to this story! Michelle. GET IT TO US NOW!!!!! Michelle L. Johnson has set us up in a multi-layered, complex, and yet thoroughly integrated world of the balance between mankind and the Divine, and I can't wait to embark on the next journey Julia takes.
Five stars!
August 12, 2014
I was interested with Divinity because it dealt with angels and half-angels. I stated to enjoy the book more when Michael came into the picture. It was a slow process but I understood that we need the black story so that we knew who Julia is as a person.
Julia is a person you would want to meet and be friends with. She had a hard life but didn't know it was about to get even harder. There wasn't always people she could count on but she had started to turn it around this last year. Then she finds out she is half-angel and things get worse in her life. Michael comes into the picture and trains Julia in her powers. However, Julia learns quickly and far more then Michael teaches.
Divinity will keep you wanting to watch Julia grow into her powers and fight the A'nwel. But will that be all she has to fight or learn about, no. This was a quicker read for me even though at times hard to follow along. I did enjoy it in the end and can't wait for the next book.
Julia is a person you would want to meet and be friends with. She had a hard life but didn't know it was about to get even harder. There wasn't always people she could count on but she had started to turn it around this last year. Then she finds out she is half-angel and things get worse in her life. Michael comes into the picture and trains Julia in her powers. However, Julia learns quickly and far more then Michael teaches.
Divinity will keep you wanting to watch Julia grow into her powers and fight the A'nwel. But will that be all she has to fight or learn about, no. This was a quicker read for me even though at times hard to follow along. I did enjoy it in the end and can't wait for the next book.
September 24, 2014
From the beginning we were thrown into this story as Julia, heroically saves a child from burning in a car crash. From that moment, you know she’s special, and things start happening. This story has twists and turns, and you are captivated as you slowly begin to learn who Julia really is, and what kinds of powers she holds within her. In between there is dialogue between the realms (which I loved) because it added so much dimension.
Divinity was a beautifully told story filled with love, pain, self-discovery, strength, and hope. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment!!!
Divinity was a beautifully told story filled with love, pain, self-discovery, strength, and hope. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment!!!
April 29, 2014
Loved this and cannot wait for the sequel.
September 20, 2014
Imagine your reaction if the Archangel Gabriel appeared before you and announced that he was your father, and that you’re half Archangel. Not half angel. Half Archangel.
Would that create a little upheaval in your world?
When Julia Samson, the main character in Michelle L. Johnson’s new novel Divinity meets her father – yep, that’s Gabriel, the Archangel -- Julia is pointed down a path that seems pre-determined, or least Gabriel and the other Archangels think it is. Julia, however, has overcome many challenges in her 30-some years on Earth. She’s not going let angels suddenly tell her who she is and what she’s supposed to do.
Johnson has created a great cast of characters, discarding the traditional angel persona in favor of a fresh, less powerful and more human, group of Archangels. They have a non-traditional purpose too, assigned to keep the Earth simply balanced instead of pure and good. That leaves lots of room for error and disagreement among the Archangels, and it’s clear Michael, the so-called leader of the Archangels, doesn’t have much control over his team. We meet Archangels who are stubbornly independent, manipulative, and each working his or her own agenda based on different perceptions of what balance is.
There’s something evil in this book, as you might expect, but in Divinity Johnson completely discards the traditional devil and demons-from-Hell as evil concept. She gives us instead a dark and powerful force called the A’nwel that the Archangels have never before encountered, something they can’t see or feel, and something that makes them genuinely afraid. The Archangels are vulnerable, almost human, in their response to the A’nwel. They turn to Julia because only she can see what it is, even if she’s not yet ready to face it.
The earthly cast is equally diverse, though not always truly earth-bound, and Julia’s understanding of her life and half-human, half-angel nature forces her to revisit every important relationship in life since birth.
Johnson weaves the large cast of characters around Julia as she searches for answers, all wrapped up in a multi-level universe of Earth, a level where the Archangels live that is definitely not Heaven, a mid-level that provides a great setting for several scenes, and wherever it is the A’nwel comes from.
The story weaves skillfully back and forth in time as Julia searches through her past, uncovering surprises and gaining fresh hope, while at the same time discovering her powers as an angel and searching for the A’nwel. We also move freely among the levels of Julia’s world, learning to flow between Earth, the middle level, and the higher level just as she does.
At the center of it all is Julia, and what the makes the book truly work are the complex relationships that evolve. Julia’s boyfriend Alex, his mother, and her closest friend Charlie, anchor her Earthly presence. Michael mentors her as she learns about her angel side, while her father, Gabriel, remains distant and aloof, confusing and hurting her.
Of course, Julia must deal with the A’nwel, even if she isn’t sure what it is or if it’s evil. The hunt for the A’nwel is artfully weaved into the plot as well, and the “final” confrontation forces Julia to act. Exactly how would be a spoiler, though I will tell you the 300-word epilogue will send a shiver down your spine and leave you wanting more.
Would that create a little upheaval in your world?
When Julia Samson, the main character in Michelle L. Johnson’s new novel Divinity meets her father – yep, that’s Gabriel, the Archangel -- Julia is pointed down a path that seems pre-determined, or least Gabriel and the other Archangels think it is. Julia, however, has overcome many challenges in her 30-some years on Earth. She’s not going let angels suddenly tell her who she is and what she’s supposed to do.
Johnson has created a great cast of characters, discarding the traditional angel persona in favor of a fresh, less powerful and more human, group of Archangels. They have a non-traditional purpose too, assigned to keep the Earth simply balanced instead of pure and good. That leaves lots of room for error and disagreement among the Archangels, and it’s clear Michael, the so-called leader of the Archangels, doesn’t have much control over his team. We meet Archangels who are stubbornly independent, manipulative, and each working his or her own agenda based on different perceptions of what balance is.
There’s something evil in this book, as you might expect, but in Divinity Johnson completely discards the traditional devil and demons-from-Hell as evil concept. She gives us instead a dark and powerful force called the A’nwel that the Archangels have never before encountered, something they can’t see or feel, and something that makes them genuinely afraid. The Archangels are vulnerable, almost human, in their response to the A’nwel. They turn to Julia because only she can see what it is, even if she’s not yet ready to face it.
The earthly cast is equally diverse, though not always truly earth-bound, and Julia’s understanding of her life and half-human, half-angel nature forces her to revisit every important relationship in life since birth.
Johnson weaves the large cast of characters around Julia as she searches for answers, all wrapped up in a multi-level universe of Earth, a level where the Archangels live that is definitely not Heaven, a mid-level that provides a great setting for several scenes, and wherever it is the A’nwel comes from.
The story weaves skillfully back and forth in time as Julia searches through her past, uncovering surprises and gaining fresh hope, while at the same time discovering her powers as an angel and searching for the A’nwel. We also move freely among the levels of Julia’s world, learning to flow between Earth, the middle level, and the higher level just as she does.
At the center of it all is Julia, and what the makes the book truly work are the complex relationships that evolve. Julia’s boyfriend Alex, his mother, and her closest friend Charlie, anchor her Earthly presence. Michael mentors her as she learns about her angel side, while her father, Gabriel, remains distant and aloof, confusing and hurting her.
Of course, Julia must deal with the A’nwel, even if she isn’t sure what it is or if it’s evil. The hunt for the A’nwel is artfully weaved into the plot as well, and the “final” confrontation forces Julia to act. Exactly how would be a spoiler, though I will tell you the 300-word epilogue will send a shiver down your spine and leave you wanting more.
September 1, 2014
What really says something about this book is the fact that I didn't care for the subject much at all but still found myself engrossed in the story and wanting to read more. I am not a religious person, and while this book may not be religious per se it is definitely all spiritual and such with talk of god here and there. It's about Julia finding and accepting her angel heritage and of having faith and being strong. Like I said, not really my thing, but somehow I still loved this book.
Julia has had a rough childhood, but since has had a pretty decent life. She owns a successful restaurant and has the sweetest most loving boyfriend. Sure some weird things happen to her but she has learned to deal with them. What she has longed for her whole life is a family. But the night when she finds out that the archangel Gabriel is her father, instead of being happy, she's pretty pissed. She's understandably angry with him for allowing all of the bad things that had happened to her happen when he was able to prevent them, and also for abandoning her. Since she is openly unaccepting of him, the most powerful archangel, Michael, takes it upon himself to teach and protect her. See, she is one of twelve children sired by an archangel because they are there to try to keep the balance of good and evil on the earth. But those children don't always live long lives. And with Julia her safety is even more important for what she might be destined to be. She actually accepts all that she's told rather well and is pretty much on bored with all. But then tragedy strikes. I was surprised with how well she moved on and how she was able to let her anger go about it all. From here the story seems to pick up a bit what with this creature out to get her. It's pretty much evil given form but none of the other angels can even see it. So to keep the balance and protect the Earth, Julia's training is picked up a little and she grows more and more into the position that she's supposedly destined to fulfill. She is stronger than most of the other archangels and has abilities that only Micheal has. Coming out victorious at the end all seems like it will be okay....but will it really?
While I'm not sure if I would buy the next book that seems bound to come out, I would definitely give it a read if I got it for free or some such. With the unrest of some of the other archangels and the way it ended I can say I am curious as to what happens next.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley
Julia has had a rough childhood, but since has had a pretty decent life. She owns a successful restaurant and has the sweetest most loving boyfriend. Sure some weird things happen to her but she has learned to deal with them. What she has longed for her whole life is a family. But the night when she finds out that the archangel Gabriel is her father, instead of being happy, she's pretty pissed. She's understandably angry with him for allowing all of the bad things that had happened to her happen when he was able to prevent them, and also for abandoning her. Since she is openly unaccepting of him, the most powerful archangel, Michael, takes it upon himself to teach and protect her. See, she is one of twelve children sired by an archangel because they are there to try to keep the balance of good and evil on the earth. But those children don't always live long lives. And with Julia her safety is even more important for what she might be destined to be. She actually accepts all that she's told rather well and is pretty much on bored with all. But then tragedy strikes. I was surprised with how well she moved on and how she was able to let her anger go about it all. From here the story seems to pick up a bit what with this creature out to get her. It's pretty much evil given form but none of the other angels can even see it. So to keep the balance and protect the Earth, Julia's training is picked up a little and she grows more and more into the position that she's supposedly destined to fulfill. She is stronger than most of the other archangels and has abilities that only Micheal has. Coming out victorious at the end all seems like it will be okay....but will it really?
While I'm not sure if I would buy the next book that seems bound to come out, I would definitely give it a read if I got it for free or some such. With the unrest of some of the other archangels and the way it ended I can say I am curious as to what happens next.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley
January 4, 2019
This book is so much more than what I've come to expect from the multitude of paranormal fantasy stories available about angels. It was anything but predictable and from one page to the next, it drew me in. I could barely put it down; I had to know what happened next. A good book will make you become emotionally invested in its characters and this book did just that. I smiled, I giggled, I gasped, and even felt a little teary throughout the story. I was torn between wanting to have an absolute resolution by the end and hoping it would be left open for a sequel! I was very glad to find this isn't just another paranormal love triangle romance. It's a got a great story line that just doesn't need that kind of distraction to make you fall in love with it! Bottom-line, get this book! Guaranteed to be your next new favorite!
August 15, 2014
ARC from Spencer Hill Press
Rated 4.3 out of 5.0 Stars
Synopsis
Julia has had a horrible life- filled with orphanages, sexual abuse by her new "family", homelessness, and heartache. She tries to take her own life, but is unsuccessful. And then she meets Alex. He is her everything, the person she is meant to be with. The day she pulls a baby out of a burning vehicle without injuring herself or the baby, she begins questioning herself. She should have died in that fire, or at the very least, been burned beyond recognition. But something, or rather, someone saved her. Little does she know that it was herself. Julia receives a rather unexpected and terrifying visit from the Archangel Gabriel. That family that Julia never had growing up, well here it is. She is the daughter of Gabriel, half angel and half human, bred for the use of the angels to balance out the darkness on Earth. All she feels for the angel standing before her, claiming to be her father, is anger. Where was he all of her life, through the abuse and molestation? With no trust for her father, the Archangel Michael, the most powerful of all the angels steps in to guide Julia. He begins teaching her about her history and the hidden powers she possesses. But when a dark force that even the angels can't explain forces its way into her life, Julia will have to step up and fight alongside the Angels. Can she trust them? Can they trust her? And can she defeat this dark force before it takes the few remaining people she has in her life?
My Thoughts
I could not put this book down, and ended up being bumped in my nose with my Nook at 3am. This was not your typical "girl finds out she is an angel and cannot be with the boy she loves" kind of story. It is so much more. The plot line is completely original, and I loved the presence of the Archangels throughout the story. Gabriel and Michael are wonderfully written characters, everything we expect from some of the most powerful creatures in existence. I appreciated that religion did not have a whole lot of play in this book, and if anything, the idea was given that all religions have their place in the world. Thank you, Michelle Johnson. What an amazing concept that I believe wholeheartedly. Julia is a well written protagonist, and her strength through really tough times shows that she is not just one dimensional. I hated one part of this book so much, and the reader will understand what part that is when it happens. I did cry, which is usually not my style, but dang Michelle. Did you have to? I believe this book will have a large following of readers, and I am hoping it will turn into a series. There were a lot of unanswered questions, and the unaccepted offer from Michael at the end makes me believe there will be more. I will definitely be looking forward to reading the next in the series if that is the case. Wonderful story, original plot line, well rounded characters. Can a reader ask for more? I loved it, and look forward to more from Michelle Johnson!
Excerpt from Book
Rated 4.3 out of 5.0 Stars
Synopsis
Julia has had a horrible life- filled with orphanages, sexual abuse by her new "family", homelessness, and heartache. She tries to take her own life, but is unsuccessful. And then she meets Alex. He is her everything, the person she is meant to be with. The day she pulls a baby out of a burning vehicle without injuring herself or the baby, she begins questioning herself. She should have died in that fire, or at the very least, been burned beyond recognition. But something, or rather, someone saved her. Little does she know that it was herself. Julia receives a rather unexpected and terrifying visit from the Archangel Gabriel. That family that Julia never had growing up, well here it is. She is the daughter of Gabriel, half angel and half human, bred for the use of the angels to balance out the darkness on Earth. All she feels for the angel standing before her, claiming to be her father, is anger. Where was he all of her life, through the abuse and molestation? With no trust for her father, the Archangel Michael, the most powerful of all the angels steps in to guide Julia. He begins teaching her about her history and the hidden powers she possesses. But when a dark force that even the angels can't explain forces its way into her life, Julia will have to step up and fight alongside the Angels. Can she trust them? Can they trust her? And can she defeat this dark force before it takes the few remaining people she has in her life?
My Thoughts
I could not put this book down, and ended up being bumped in my nose with my Nook at 3am. This was not your typical "girl finds out she is an angel and cannot be with the boy she loves" kind of story. It is so much more. The plot line is completely original, and I loved the presence of the Archangels throughout the story. Gabriel and Michael are wonderfully written characters, everything we expect from some of the most powerful creatures in existence. I appreciated that religion did not have a whole lot of play in this book, and if anything, the idea was given that all religions have their place in the world. Thank you, Michelle Johnson. What an amazing concept that I believe wholeheartedly. Julia is a well written protagonist, and her strength through really tough times shows that she is not just one dimensional. I hated one part of this book so much, and the reader will understand what part that is when it happens. I did cry, which is usually not my style, but dang Michelle. Did you have to? I believe this book will have a large following of readers, and I am hoping it will turn into a series. There were a lot of unanswered questions, and the unaccepted offer from Michael at the end makes me believe there will be more. I will definitely be looking forward to reading the next in the series if that is the case. Wonderful story, original plot line, well rounded characters. Can a reader ask for more? I loved it, and look forward to more from Michelle Johnson!
Excerpt from Book
"The mating of an angel and a human creates a child that is capable of hosting an angel's spirit in a way that will allow that spirit to avoid the limitations of humans. A heavenly spirit- an angel- can come to Earth, and be born into a human body. But then it has all the limitations that a human being has. Five senses only, limited communication and perception, and the physical sensations that a human experiences are so intense that often angels will become sidetracked with the pursuit of physical pleasures. You mean like... sex? Julia asked, her eyes wide. Yes. Michael laughed. Show me a Sex Addicts Anonymous meeting, and I will show you a room full of distracted angels." -Michelle Johnson
October 5, 2014
I would like to thank Spence City and NetGalley for granting me a copy of this e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this e-book for free that in no way impacts my review.
Goodreads Blurb:
Ms. Johnson certainly offers an unique premise with Divinity, one this book fulfills quite nicely. Not only is the story fascinating, but it is peopled with some truly interesting characters. The pacing flows smoothly, but not so smoothly that there aren't jolts of excitement, confusion, fear, and joy along the way.
Julia has led a hard life, but managed to take it in hand and create something all her own, something she is proud of. But her past has left its scars, and they still interfere in her daily life. Luckily for her, Alex, the love of her life, is more than patient. Between her past and present Julia's character is compelling. She grabs the reader, making you want too know more about her - and that is before the angels even appear to her.
Johnson's handling of the angels and their characterizations is refreshing. Rather than being stuffy and uptight, or alternately too cheerful and forgiving, they are each gifted with very distinct personalities. Heaven is not filled with bucolic angels floating around on clouds, or at least not the Heaven we are shown. While it is peaceful, it is also a place of intense work done by the Archangels. And thankfully, each of them is entertaining, to varying degrees.
This book carries the reader on a journey that leads from the dark into the light over and over again, with each instance either understandable or relatable, and all germane to the central story. As Julia begins to pick things up the pace of the book goes with her. It is very smoothly combined, the growth of the protagonist and the arc of the story. Based upon the ending I can only hope that a sequel is in the works to answer to question that arises at the end.
Goodreads Blurb:
When Julia climbs into a flaming car to save a trapped child, she's left wondering why either of them survived. Then she learns that her father is the Archangel Gabriel, and that she is half human, half Archangel. With guidance from Michael, the most powerful Archangel, Julia sets out to discover her own history and explore her angelic powers. But her journey is cut short when an evil force, invisible to human and angel alike, tears her world apart. Now Julia must fight through her despair, harness her newfound gifts, and risk her very soul to stop the A'nwel and protect the family she never knew she had. What she doesn't know is that Archangels have secrets too.
Ms. Johnson certainly offers an unique premise with Divinity, one this book fulfills quite nicely. Not only is the story fascinating, but it is peopled with some truly interesting characters. The pacing flows smoothly, but not so smoothly that there aren't jolts of excitement, confusion, fear, and joy along the way.
Julia has led a hard life, but managed to take it in hand and create something all her own, something she is proud of. But her past has left its scars, and they still interfere in her daily life. Luckily for her, Alex, the love of her life, is more than patient. Between her past and present Julia's character is compelling. She grabs the reader, making you want too know more about her - and that is before the angels even appear to her.
Johnson's handling of the angels and their characterizations is refreshing. Rather than being stuffy and uptight, or alternately too cheerful and forgiving, they are each gifted with very distinct personalities. Heaven is not filled with bucolic angels floating around on clouds, or at least not the Heaven we are shown. While it is peaceful, it is also a place of intense work done by the Archangels. And thankfully, each of them is entertaining, to varying degrees.
This book carries the reader on a journey that leads from the dark into the light over and over again, with each instance either understandable or relatable, and all germane to the central story. As Julia begins to pick things up the pace of the book goes with her. It is very smoothly combined, the growth of the protagonist and the arc of the story. Based upon the ending I can only hope that a sequel is in the works to answer to question that arises at the end.
October 18, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Spencer Hill Press and NetGalley.)
This was an interesting angel story, but the pace was on the slow side.
I liked Julia in this and I felt really sorry for her. It must have been so hard for her to have no-one to support her, and to lose everyone who she loved. What an awful place to find yourself! She had obviously done quite well for herself somehow though, somehow managing to end up owning a restaurant? That is pretty good for a girl who was basically out on the streets on her own!
The storyline in this was pretty good, but the pace was really slow. Thankfully I enjoyed the story so the pace didn’t bother me too much, but it was still very slow. There were a couple of twists that were thrown in that I didn’t see coming, and Julia did become far more powerful than I expected.
There was a little romance in this one, but it wasn’t the main part of the story, and didn’t factor at all after a point.
The ending was pretty good, and also left us with a teaser as to what we can expect in the next book. I did enjoy this book overall, and it will certainly be interesting to find out what happens to Julia next.
7 out of 10.
This was an interesting angel story, but the pace was on the slow side.
I liked Julia in this and I felt really sorry for her. It must have been so hard for her to have no-one to support her, and to lose everyone who she loved. What an awful place to find yourself! She had obviously done quite well for herself somehow though, somehow managing to end up owning a restaurant? That is pretty good for a girl who was basically out on the streets on her own!
The storyline in this was pretty good, but the pace was really slow. Thankfully I enjoyed the story so the pace didn’t bother me too much, but it was still very slow. There were a couple of twists that were thrown in that I didn’t see coming, and Julia did become far more powerful than I expected.
There was a little romance in this one, but it wasn’t the main part of the story, and didn’t factor at all after a point.
The ending was pretty good, and also left us with a teaser as to what we can expect in the next book. I did enjoy this book overall, and it will certainly be interesting to find out what happens to Julia next.
7 out of 10.
September 9, 2014
Divinity is a different sort of angel book. I liked the originality that Johnson brings to the fantasy genre.
I want to be straight up and say that this book touches on the subject of attempted suicide. If this subject is a trigger for you, I would avoid this book. For the rest of you, I think the way the subject is handled and the strength and love that Julia experiences is amazing. With all that she sees and goes through, she is now determined to get vengeance rather than just give up. She seeks to right wrongs rather than add to them.
Divinity is written in alternating points of view and I like that we get a close up look at what the angels are thinking. I enjoyed seeing Julia and her world through their eyes.
There is a lot of action in this book and sometimes things get a little dark, but overall I enjoyed this read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Spencer Hill Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2014
4 Stars of Archangel greatness!
I love the mystical and paranormal. I love angels and stories of how things work. This is a great start to a series that has drawn me in and left me wanting to know the rest of the story.
Julia has led a hard life. A life that she thought had no purpose and thus she wanted to leave. A childhood full of pain and abuse, mixed with a life full of let downs. She could not see the forest through the trees, so to speak. Julia is not your normal woman. Her troubles are about to become a matter of great importance. She is about to battle a fight the likes none of us will ever see. She will lose greatly, learn, grow and conquer. All because Julia is not like you and me. Julia is half archangel, half human. Heaven hasn't seen anything like her yet!
I enjoyed how this played out. I love the authors take on the angels. I want to know where the story will take me and all the twists and turns that get me there. The love that is shared between Julia and Alex is phenomenal, it is transcendent. The Angels not understanding how to connect on the human level is expertly done. This is a wonderful read.
Very well written. I will definitely be following this story.
Sent from my iPad
I love the mystical and paranormal. I love angels and stories of how things work. This is a great start to a series that has drawn me in and left me wanting to know the rest of the story.
Julia has led a hard life. A life that she thought had no purpose and thus she wanted to leave. A childhood full of pain and abuse, mixed with a life full of let downs. She could not see the forest through the trees, so to speak. Julia is not your normal woman. Her troubles are about to become a matter of great importance. She is about to battle a fight the likes none of us will ever see. She will lose greatly, learn, grow and conquer. All because Julia is not like you and me. Julia is half archangel, half human. Heaven hasn't seen anything like her yet!
I enjoyed how this played out. I love the authors take on the angels. I want to know where the story will take me and all the twists and turns that get me there. The love that is shared between Julia and Alex is phenomenal, it is transcendent. The Angels not understanding how to connect on the human level is expertly done. This is a wonderful read.
Very well written. I will definitely be following this story.
Sent from my iPad
September 6, 2014
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley
Rated 3.5 Stars **
This is the story of Julia, who thinks she is just a normal girl with a bad life story. Until one day she saves a baby from a burning car and comes out unharmed even though she should have died from the car exploding.
Turns out she is half angel and that the Archangel Gabriel is her father. But there are also evil creatures that doesn't want her alive. She must now risk her soul and learn to use her powers in time to fight the A'nwel. But are the angels telling her everything?
I enjoyed this book, it is really well written and I found the story to be quite original and interesting. I have to admit that angels aren't really my favorite subject, as I am not religious person. But this story was good enough that I didn't mind the occasional mention of God and Lucifer, it's not really a religious book as such, but definitely spiritual.
I still got engrossed in the story and read it in one day as I wanted to see what would happen next. I will definitely be looking out to see if there will be a sequel to see what happens next!
Rated 3.5 Stars **
This is the story of Julia, who thinks she is just a normal girl with a bad life story. Until one day she saves a baby from a burning car and comes out unharmed even though she should have died from the car exploding.
Turns out she is half angel and that the Archangel Gabriel is her father. But there are also evil creatures that doesn't want her alive. She must now risk her soul and learn to use her powers in time to fight the A'nwel. But are the angels telling her everything?
I enjoyed this book, it is really well written and I found the story to be quite original and interesting. I have to admit that angels aren't really my favorite subject, as I am not religious person. But this story was good enough that I didn't mind the occasional mention of God and Lucifer, it's not really a religious book as such, but definitely spiritual.
I still got engrossed in the story and read it in one day as I wanted to see what would happen next. I will definitely be looking out to see if there will be a sequel to see what happens next!
September 4, 2014
I usually don't read many archangel stories, because they seem to let me down. However, this is the first one that I know I will be reading over and over. The authors voice is unique and pulls you in from the first page. Clear your day because you are not going to want to put this book down.
*I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via NETGALLEY*
*I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via NETGALLEY*
September 20, 2014
I generally really like books about people who are in "two worlds," so to speak, so I was excited to meet this book's protagonist: Julia is the daughter of an Archangel and a human, and she lived her whole life without knowing her real identity. To be honest the "action" plot of this story was something I could take or leave; the protagonist was being chased by--then chasing--an evil whose nature couldn't even be determined by the supposedly all-knowing angels, and because of a unique mixture of human passion and Archangel power, she alone could sense it and fight it. And don't get me wrong; those scenes were exciting, but they weren't what drove the story for me. At its heart, this is a character-oriented story, and that's what I appreciated about it; Julia not only had a past of childhood abuse and later depression/self-harm, but when she had gone through so much to recover in adulthood, one of the people she loved the most was taken from her, and that grief absolutely boiled off the pages for me. It's refreshing to read a book that truly takes its time with grief and doesn't use death of a loved one as a cheap motivating factor for vengeance or plot. (The plot was certainly already happening without it, and she had reason to fight this thing even if it hadn't taken someone very dear from her.)
I loved the scenes with her fiancé, and with his mother as she was getting to know her, and her relationship with her online friend Charlie, and when she finally got to meet both her biological mother and her true father. I loved that there was so much pain and hostility embedded in her relationship with Gabriel, and that Michael was there for her, and her relationship with the other angels. I liked when they kind of became afraid of her and confused when she started doing things she kind of wasn't supposed to be able to do, and how they managed to learn from her even as she learned from them. And I liked that to some degree "insanity" was sort of legitimized when it was shown that someone with a mental illness had built what she needed to build.
I thought the ending was a little bit weirdly rushed; there were a lot of trickling plot threads throughout the story that I thought were going somewhere, but they either got sort of put on hold and I guess postponed to be taken care of in the sequel (and I don't just mean the epilogue) or they kind of didn't get addressed at all. I was pleased with a couple of the thread wrap-ups, though--particularly how Gabriel and Julia are moving toward resolution but there was never this whole "YAY THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS FIXED NOW" kind of interaction--because that wouldn't be realistic at all. I like that. I was also kind of distracted while reading it because of how constantly the angels' wing movements were described even though they had faces and other limbs too that could have been leading some of the gestures . . . I guess that just felt like too much. And I do have a little bitty pet peeve about how often women are made complex and dark because they have sexual abuse in their past, which was certainly important to the story but since the book bucked tradition in quite a few ways I was surprised this very traditional one was there.
The book definitely held my attention throughout, and got me emotionally involved, so even though there are a few things I'd have done differently if I were writing it, I felt very satisfied with its emotional center and enjoyed the read.
I loved the scenes with her fiancé, and with his mother as she was getting to know her, and her relationship with her online friend Charlie, and when she finally got to meet both her biological mother and her true father. I loved that there was so much pain and hostility embedded in her relationship with Gabriel, and that Michael was there for her, and her relationship with the other angels. I liked when they kind of became afraid of her and confused when she started doing things she kind of wasn't supposed to be able to do, and how they managed to learn from her even as she learned from them. And I liked that to some degree "insanity" was sort of legitimized when it was shown that someone with a mental illness had built what she needed to build.
I thought the ending was a little bit weirdly rushed; there were a lot of trickling plot threads throughout the story that I thought were going somewhere, but they either got sort of put on hold and I guess postponed to be taken care of in the sequel (and I don't just mean the epilogue) or they kind of didn't get addressed at all. I was pleased with a couple of the thread wrap-ups, though--particularly how Gabriel and Julia are moving toward resolution but there was never this whole "YAY THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS FIXED NOW" kind of interaction--because that wouldn't be realistic at all. I like that. I was also kind of distracted while reading it because of how constantly the angels' wing movements were described even though they had faces and other limbs too that could have been leading some of the gestures . . . I guess that just felt like too much. And I do have a little bitty pet peeve about how often women are made complex and dark because they have sexual abuse in their past, which was certainly important to the story but since the book bucked tradition in quite a few ways I was surprised this very traditional one was there.
The book definitely held my attention throughout, and got me emotionally involved, so even though there are a few things I'd have done differently if I were writing it, I felt very satisfied with its emotional center and enjoyed the read.
September 29, 2014
The author has created a unique angelic storyline combining the good and evil amongst us with strong character building and a necessary detailed plot.
Julia has struggled and has experienced a lot of pain in her life. At her weakest moment, the unimaginable happens and things in her life start to take a turn for the good. Julia is now the proud owner of an up and coming restaurant, owns her own home and has found love like no other...
Things come to a halt when she discovers who her father is, the Archangel, Gabriel.
The confusion and anger Julia goes through is just the beginning to a new chapter in her life that she has no choice but to face head on without having the time to grieve... a new life that she cannot ignore and must learn to navigate quickly - it isn't easy being half-human and half-angel.
As she is trying to work out what this means and how to deal with it, going through the everyday motions takes much effort, but worth the effort since she is dedicated to her employees, and, her beloved boyfriend... But when tragedies strike again and again - heartbreaking moments that brought tears to my own eyes - how can we expect Julia to let her human losses go? But the cause of these tragedies are bigger than everything that has ever existed before. Not even the Archangels know what this evil is, and they are heavily depending on Julia and her new strengths to pull it together and help them not only figure it out, but destroy it too.
What was amazing about Julia's story is how the author was able to give us so many minute details and information without going overboard and making it boring - every single piece of information is vital in learning about Julia's destiny, finding this evil presence and in witnessing Julia's progress and transformation.
The story is not religion-heavy, however, there is much talk about spirits and faith since we are dealing with Archangels and evil spirits, which is to be expected. Also, the author touches upon some very hard topics, such as child and spousal abuse and suicide.
One of the things I loved about this book is the strong importance of family. Julia never had a family and finds one with her boyfriend Alex and his mother. And then later learns that the Archangels have always been there for her. It is quite endearing to see this mentioned over and over again.
My one and only quirk is: the ending felt a bit rushed and I wish I would have learned more about this evil 'thing'. But then, if that was done, there probably wouldn't be a huge need for a sequel...
This is the perfect read for those of us that have been clamoring to get back into supernatural/paranormal kind of books.
*An ARC was sent to me by the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Julia has struggled and has experienced a lot of pain in her life. At her weakest moment, the unimaginable happens and things in her life start to take a turn for the good. Julia is now the proud owner of an up and coming restaurant, owns her own home and has found love like no other...
Things come to a halt when she discovers who her father is, the Archangel, Gabriel.
The confusion and anger Julia goes through is just the beginning to a new chapter in her life that she has no choice but to face head on without having the time to grieve... a new life that she cannot ignore and must learn to navigate quickly - it isn't easy being half-human and half-angel.
As she is trying to work out what this means and how to deal with it, going through the everyday motions takes much effort, but worth the effort since she is dedicated to her employees, and, her beloved boyfriend... But when tragedies strike again and again - heartbreaking moments that brought tears to my own eyes - how can we expect Julia to let her human losses go? But the cause of these tragedies are bigger than everything that has ever existed before. Not even the Archangels know what this evil is, and they are heavily depending on Julia and her new strengths to pull it together and help them not only figure it out, but destroy it too.
What was amazing about Julia's story is how the author was able to give us so many minute details and information without going overboard and making it boring - every single piece of information is vital in learning about Julia's destiny, finding this evil presence and in witnessing Julia's progress and transformation.
The story is not religion-heavy, however, there is much talk about spirits and faith since we are dealing with Archangels and evil spirits, which is to be expected. Also, the author touches upon some very hard topics, such as child and spousal abuse and suicide.
One of the things I loved about this book is the strong importance of family. Julia never had a family and finds one with her boyfriend Alex and his mother. And then later learns that the Archangels have always been there for her. It is quite endearing to see this mentioned over and over again.
My one and only quirk is: the ending felt a bit rushed and I wish I would have learned more about this evil 'thing'. But then, if that was done, there probably wouldn't be a huge need for a sequel...
This is the perfect read for those of us that have been clamoring to get back into supernatural/paranormal kind of books.
*An ARC was sent to me by the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
March 4, 2015
I wanted to like this book. In fact; I was sure I would love it - I mean; just look at how beautiful it is! I guess I forgot that all important adage: "Never judge a book by its cover."
It all starts the day Julia rescues a child trapped in a burning car, and she learns she is, in fact, the Child of a human mother and the archangel Gabriel. (Private Debra Dunbar related snicker.) At any given time, there are 12 Children on Earth, although few make it to adulthood - or live very long lives.
Some of the previous Children include Jean D'Arc, John F. Kennedy Jr., Gandhi and princess Diana. And that was where I started rolling my eyes in earnest. Yes, these people are idols to a lot of people, but we don't have to dig deep to understand they were absolutely NOT half angel material.
Gandhi, for instance, had little love for black people. During his 21 years in South Africa, he repeatedly expressed contempt for the native population, claiming they were no better than the “untouchables” of Indian society. One speech in particular stands out. In 1896, he was quoted as referring to black South Africans as the “raw kaffir, whose occupation is hunting and whose sole ambition is to collect a certain number of cattle to buy a wife with, and then pass his life in indolence and nakedness.” For those of you who aren’t up on your South African slang, “kaffir” is a direct equivalent of our N-word.
Princess Diana had lovers while she was married, and although she lived a stressful life, adultery isn't what I would expect of an angel - no matter what. God's commandments and all...
In addition, there's the weird concept that an original angelic spirit will somehow become more powerful if it's fathered by an archangel and born to a human mother. Why? It's still the same soul it's always been, only now it's trapped in a human body. Just weird.
Then there is the small matter of the sacrifice that turns out to be more permanent than initially thought. Perhaps it's just me, but that felt too melodramatic for my taste.
The only thing I liked about his book, was the dysfunctonal and reluctant, but sometimes sweet, relationship between Gabriel and Julia. It has potential to become something more. This book may not be listed as a stand-alone for now, but there are lots of loose threads, so I'm guessing this will become a series if there's enough interest. I know I will not continue reading this series, though.
2.5 ★
It all starts the day Julia rescues a child trapped in a burning car, and she learns she is, in fact, the Child of a human mother and the archangel Gabriel. (Private Debra Dunbar related snicker.) At any given time, there are 12 Children on Earth, although few make it to adulthood - or live very long lives.
Some of the previous Children include Jean D'Arc, John F. Kennedy Jr., Gandhi and princess Diana. And that was where I started rolling my eyes in earnest. Yes, these people are idols to a lot of people, but we don't have to dig deep to understand they were absolutely NOT half angel material.
Gandhi, for instance, had little love for black people. During his 21 years in South Africa, he repeatedly expressed contempt for the native population, claiming they were no better than the “untouchables” of Indian society. One speech in particular stands out. In 1896, he was quoted as referring to black South Africans as the “raw kaffir, whose occupation is hunting and whose sole ambition is to collect a certain number of cattle to buy a wife with, and then pass his life in indolence and nakedness.” For those of you who aren’t up on your South African slang, “kaffir” is a direct equivalent of our N-word.
Princess Diana had lovers while she was married, and although she lived a stressful life, adultery isn't what I would expect of an angel - no matter what. God's commandments and all...
In addition, there's the weird concept that an original angelic spirit will somehow become more powerful if it's fathered by an archangel and born to a human mother. Why? It's still the same soul it's always been, only now it's trapped in a human body. Just weird.
Then there is the small matter of the sacrifice that turns out to be more permanent than initially thought. Perhaps it's just me, but that felt too melodramatic for my taste.
The only thing I liked about his book, was the dysfunctonal and reluctant, but sometimes sweet, relationship between Gabriel and Julia. It has potential to become something more. This book may not be listed as a stand-alone for now, but there are lots of loose threads, so I'm guessing this will become a series if there's enough interest. I know I will not continue reading this series, though.
2.5 ★
September 18, 2014
I jumped at the chance to read and review this for a blog tour that SHP was organizing. It had been awhile since I had read a book with an Angel theme and this one sounded promising and well, the cover art really got me too. I think the cover is beautiful.
We follow Julia as she learns more about whom she descends from and we find out what she’s been through in her life to get her where she is..and boy Poor Julia had been through a LOT of stuff in her life.
Some sensitive subjects are covered in this book from suicide to multiple kinds of abuse. So if you’re one that tends to avoid that kind of subject matter you might want to pass on this book. This story will definitely put your emotions through the ringer. I had to break out the box of kleenex a few times!
I generally read books that have a romantic theme to theme and this one had a little bit of a romance for awhile and I really dug the male character, Alex, that Julia was dating in this book. He was very protective of Julia and was destined to be apart of Julia’s life and he followed through with what he was to do.
You get the POVs from Julia AND the Angels which is cool, but it’s all in Third person and that is one thing that drives me crazy. (Don’t ask me why! It just does! Ha.) I can see getting the Angels POVs in Third Person but I always like to read my main characters in first person..so that kind of drove me batty throughout the whole book. Ha. Other than that..this book was a decent read and is quite different from other angelic themed books that I have read. If you’re into Angels but want to read something a little different, you should check this book out.
Thanks to Spence City for allowing me to read and review this book!
We follow Julia as she learns more about whom she descends from and we find out what she’s been through in her life to get her where she is..and boy Poor Julia had been through a LOT of stuff in her life.
Some sensitive subjects are covered in this book from suicide to multiple kinds of abuse. So if you’re one that tends to avoid that kind of subject matter you might want to pass on this book. This story will definitely put your emotions through the ringer. I had to break out the box of kleenex a few times!
I generally read books that have a romantic theme to theme and this one had a little bit of a romance for awhile and I really dug the male character, Alex, that Julia was dating in this book. He was very protective of Julia and was destined to be apart of Julia’s life and he followed through with what he was to do.
You get the POVs from Julia AND the Angels which is cool, but it’s all in Third person and that is one thing that drives me crazy. (Don’t ask me why! It just does! Ha.) I can see getting the Angels POVs in Third Person but I always like to read my main characters in first person..so that kind of drove me batty throughout the whole book. Ha. Other than that..this book was a decent read and is quite different from other angelic themed books that I have read. If you’re into Angels but want to read something a little different, you should check this book out.
Thanks to Spence City for allowing me to read and review this book!
January 10, 2015
2.5*s
Before I start with the review I am going to explain my rating, I have given the book 2.5*s and I did this because whilst I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it either so I’ve gone for the middle.
What I liked about the book –
I liked the idea of the book, I liked the half human/angel scenario and I liked what Julia’s purpose seemed to be.
I really liked the way the Angels watched over their offspring and discussed them, it gave it sort of a clinical feel, like they were experiments to be viewed and studied and it made me think of old movies about Greek myths where Zeus & co. would look down on their offspring and manipulated them like a game.
I also liked how Julia’s heritage tied into the story making it very personal for her and I enjoyed most of her training.
I could empathise with Julia’s character, she had a lot of tragedy in her life and it was satisfying to see her possibly have a brighter future.
What I didn’t like about the book –
This is harder to put into words because the book is in fact likable but I think it just didn’t ‘excite’ me enough. I wasn’t pulled into the story, it didn’t grab me and keep me captivated. I said I could empathise with Julia’s character but I didn’t ‘feel’ for her, she didn’t get my emotions going and I wasn’t routing for her, she was just a character in a story I was reading. I can’t fault the writing or anything, I think the author did a good job and I can even see the appeal of the book and that some people will love this but it just didn’t appeal to me and whilst I did like the content for the most part it just left me feeling apathetic.
Before I start with the review I am going to explain my rating, I have given the book 2.5*s and I did this because whilst I didn’t love it, I didn’t hate it either so I’ve gone for the middle.
What I liked about the book –
I liked the idea of the book, I liked the half human/angel scenario and I liked what Julia’s purpose seemed to be.
I really liked the way the Angels watched over their offspring and discussed them, it gave it sort of a clinical feel, like they were experiments to be viewed and studied and it made me think of old movies about Greek myths where Zeus & co. would look down on their offspring and manipulated them like a game.
I also liked how Julia’s heritage tied into the story making it very personal for her and I enjoyed most of her training.
I could empathise with Julia’s character, she had a lot of tragedy in her life and it was satisfying to see her possibly have a brighter future.
What I didn’t like about the book –
This is harder to put into words because the book is in fact likable but I think it just didn’t ‘excite’ me enough. I wasn’t pulled into the story, it didn’t grab me and keep me captivated. I said I could empathise with Julia’s character but I didn’t ‘feel’ for her, she didn’t get my emotions going and I wasn’t routing for her, she was just a character in a story I was reading. I can’t fault the writing or anything, I think the author did a good job and I can even see the appeal of the book and that some people will love this but it just didn’t appeal to me and whilst I did like the content for the most part it just left me feeling apathetic.
September 8, 2014
Divinity takes flight with its engaging tale on archangels. Julia’s life has never been what you’d call happy. She’s struggled to overcome all odds to survive into adulthood. Yet, when a tragic accident reveals her true nature, she struggles again with accepting her new fate. You’d think finding out you’re part archangel would bring your life into a heavenly light. But, dear Julia is about to face the darkest evil of them all as she searches for answers about her birth.
Julia as a character fell a little bit in the middle of the road for me. She starts off as a somewhat strong, independent woman. But, after the loss of her boyfriend Alex and the discovery of her new past and future, she begins to frustrate me as a reader. She mourns Alex’s loss, but when she finds out his true purpose, she continues to mourn. She knows he had a higher calling to sacrifice everything to protect her. Yet, she falls back to her grief for him. It isn’t until she becomes confident in her new abilities and seeks out her mother that she drifts back into the like category. Ultimately, the ending is what really brings Julia to the forefront to shine. She’s realized her purpose in life and has fulfilled her destiny.
Jackson has given us a well laid out and plotted story. Each twist is beneficial to her story though not grossly apparent up front. The story itself is engaging and enjoyable. The subtle hints to Julia’s final outcome and the correlation with her past keep readers on their toes. I will say if you were looking for a romance factor in this story, that sadly there’s not much to cling on to.
Julia as a character fell a little bit in the middle of the road for me. She starts off as a somewhat strong, independent woman. But, after the loss of her boyfriend Alex and the discovery of her new past and future, she begins to frustrate me as a reader. She mourns Alex’s loss, but when she finds out his true purpose, she continues to mourn. She knows he had a higher calling to sacrifice everything to protect her. Yet, she falls back to her grief for him. It isn’t until she becomes confident in her new abilities and seeks out her mother that she drifts back into the like category. Ultimately, the ending is what really brings Julia to the forefront to shine. She’s realized her purpose in life and has fulfilled her destiny.
Jackson has given us a well laid out and plotted story. Each twist is beneficial to her story though not grossly apparent up front. The story itself is engaging and enjoyable. The subtle hints to Julia’s final outcome and the correlation with her past keep readers on their toes. I will say if you were looking for a romance factor in this story, that sadly there’s not much to cling on to.
October 2, 2014
This is a wonderful book and I hope it's the first of a great new series. Julia saves a baby from a car fire and it's classified as a miracle but she soon discovers that her father is the archangel Gabriel. As she learns to use and develop her powers here on earth, she is creating a ripple among other angels. Great plot and story and everything seems so plausible that maybe its nice to think their are angels all around us.
April 9, 2015
Would have been a 4.5 book for me except for the ending. Just kinda quits in the middle of nowhere, and there isn't a sequel. Some people like those kinda books. "They make you think!" (or something like that). Not me - I like my books all wrapped up by end, complete with a freaking bow.
This book instead ended like a cheesy horror movie, where in the last scene the scary boogey man is back and winks at the camera...
This book instead ended like a cheesy horror movie, where in the last scene the scary boogey man is back and winks at the camera...
September 23, 2014
I loved everything about this story!!! A fresh and original take on Archangels. Divinity will take you on an emotional and thrilling journey! My top urban fantasy read of 2014!!!!
You can see more of my thoughts on my blog along with some teasers from the story!
http://newstoriesoldbook.wordpress.co...
You can see more of my thoughts on my blog along with some teasers from the story!
http://newstoriesoldbook.wordpress.co...
September 20, 2014
Julia thought her life was finally getting better when she pulled herself up from nothing to run a successful restaurant and fell in love with the most amazing man--someone with whom she finally feels comfortable and at home. With an abusive past and a history of suicidal depression, she's come an awfully long way, only to find her battles with horror are only beginning. Julia spontaneously uses unexplained powers to save a trapped child from burning to death one day, and the explanation follows closely on this event's heels: the Archangel Gabriel appears to her and admits he is her father. So many experiences are explained in that instant, but Julia is also angry that her father had the power to protect her and yet let her suffer throughout her childhood--to the point that she almost took her own life. As she begins to investigate what it means to be half angel--with the help of the kindly Archangel Michael--she also looks into her past, her human ancestry, and the destiny that's been guiding so many of her experiences. Soon she comes face to face with an initially unnamed evil that the angels don't know how to fight, because its properties of death and decay seem to originate outside of known existence. Julia must suffer more devastating personal loss and danger beyond imagining as she helps guide the angels in detecting and fighting it, but it isn't long before she's no longer supporting them in their goal; she's leading.
Premise-wise, I feel like I tripped over a few glitches (the angels' "home" setting felt a little stark and blank; the angels' occasional contradictions as they professed to be observing all the time but also don't know certain very big, basic things about important characters; the ultimate purpose, origin, and fate of the evil force in the book being left a little murky; the conspiracy theories amongst the angels just kinda not going anywhere by the end), but I'm honestly not a plot girl, so that's forgivable for me in exchange for what's so great about the book. I really like how real Julia felt whenever she was reveling in her humanity. There were so many felt moments--especially when she was grieving or angry--that felt so raw and real. Most books use death as just a Thing That Happens and the characters cry and move on, but Julia never did that when she lost someone incredibly close to her. Not only did she go through some shock and retreating into her memories and post-traumatic stress disorder reactions that made her not want to drive the car that she associated with the death, but she continues to feel the grief as she moves on from it. She has a relationship with the left-behind loved ones of the deceased. She attends a funeral. She wears black. She aches at the scent of items that belonged to the person she lost and spontaneously cries over missed opportunities to share their future. Admittedly, making me cry isn't that difficult, but yeah, I cried a lot while reading this thing.
There were a few things that kept me from enjoying it all the way up to five stars, in addition to those mentioned above; I have a pet peeve about characters crying one tear when they're sad, and this book did that like over and over. Single tear, lone tear, one tear rolling down her cheek--I was emotionally connected to Julia when she cried, but seeing it described like that almost every time made me think "can we instead maybe see her eyes well up or her trying to hold tears in or her vision getting blurry or . . . just some indication of crying without one tear coming out of one eye?" And while I appreciated that angels aren't humans and they have their own ways of expressing themselves, I found it distracting that their wings were described over and over again in accordance with their emotions. It was clear that angels DO make facial expressions and do stuff like cross their arms, so all the wing-flaring and wing-raising and wing-tensing and whatnot felt a little too relied upon for conveying the angels' emotional states while reminding us they're angels. And I thought in comparison to the long lead-up to battling the A'nwel, the ending of the book was so swift that it felt like it landed somewhere short of the finish line I was expecting. Julia brought up some questions and implications while hunting the thing and I felt like they were being built up for the climax, but I guess they're being delivered in the sequel, not the resolution.
Other thoughts: I really like that there was a car accident on, like, page two, sucking us in immediately so Julia does something and makes us care--throws a mystery at us and doesn't make us wait around. And I like that she feels so conflicted about her dad being the Archangel Gabriel, and that finding him wasn't some saccharine completion for her. I like that one time Michael was pulled away from all the duties he was performing simultaneously and he had to reinstate those processes, which made me think he must live a lot like a Web browser with too many tabs open--processing power spread too thinly, having to try to recover them if they're lost. I liked that Julia's depression and history was revealed naturally when wanting to live after the accident felt foreign to her. I like that after weird things happened she wanted to confide in her best friend but realistically flip-flopped on what to reveal. I liked the foreshadowing techniques. I liked when the angels argued about how to contact Julia, though all the mentions of them literally standing on clouds and parting them to look down struck me as--I guess just weird, and so picturesque that I sort of wanted it to be something less storybookish to match the grittiness of the rest. (At least nobody sat around with a harp while singing, though.)
I'm not sure how I feel about an angel appearing to outright mock evolution at one point, but I guess the Biblical origins of their characters would kinda lead to that. (But since their version of reality did allow for different depictions of God all being "real," I'm not sure why the "monkeys, really?" scoffing happened.) Oh, and here's something else I thought was clever: Julia did a lot of things the angels didn't really expect (or even fully understand), so they acted a lot like humans do when they don't comprehend what's going on. They feared her, essentially, and flipped out when she kept doing things they thought she shouldn't have been able to do. There was one bit of foreshadowing (with four characters getting employment interviews and three of them just not showing up, with the fourth being a creepy guy) that I was relieved the story didn't try to bury it and hide it from me; Julia immediately figured something HAD to be up with a bunch of no-shows on interviews. (I'm a little confused about what ended up going on with this guy, though--what the full story was behind why he did what he did.) And I like the book's presentation of free will; since they state that Julia does what she does partly because she can, they're implying that they, as angels, aren't actually free at all, which is sort of sad and intriguing.
And finally, I liked that at its heart the story was about relationships--with our significant others, our closest friends, our parents, our heroes, ourselves. I especially liked the resolution of Julia's relationship with Gabriel. For her whole life she'd yearned for a family, and when she got part of hers back she couldn't stop being angry at him for his failure to protect her, his absence from her life, and his continued refusal to be human enough for her. I like that it is mostly Michael who is more fatherly to her throughout the book, and that there is some acknowledgment of the hurt, the comfort, and the bond she and Gabriel have together without putting a bow on it and making her a complete person and all that stuff stories like this often do to damaged women with daddy issues. It's really pretty unique in that regard, and I appreciate that a lot.
And one more thing: I see you with your coffee-obsessed protagonist, Michelle. ;)
Premise-wise, I feel like I tripped over a few glitches (the angels' "home" setting felt a little stark and blank; the angels' occasional contradictions as they professed to be observing all the time but also don't know certain very big, basic things about important characters; the ultimate purpose, origin, and fate of the evil force in the book being left a little murky; the conspiracy theories amongst the angels just kinda not going anywhere by the end), but I'm honestly not a plot girl, so that's forgivable for me in exchange for what's so great about the book. I really like how real Julia felt whenever she was reveling in her humanity. There were so many felt moments--especially when she was grieving or angry--that felt so raw and real. Most books use death as just a Thing That Happens and the characters cry and move on, but Julia never did that when she lost someone incredibly close to her. Not only did she go through some shock and retreating into her memories and post-traumatic stress disorder reactions that made her not want to drive the car that she associated with the death, but she continues to feel the grief as she moves on from it. She has a relationship with the left-behind loved ones of the deceased. She attends a funeral. She wears black. She aches at the scent of items that belonged to the person she lost and spontaneously cries over missed opportunities to share their future. Admittedly, making me cry isn't that difficult, but yeah, I cried a lot while reading this thing.
There were a few things that kept me from enjoying it all the way up to five stars, in addition to those mentioned above; I have a pet peeve about characters crying one tear when they're sad, and this book did that like over and over. Single tear, lone tear, one tear rolling down her cheek--I was emotionally connected to Julia when she cried, but seeing it described like that almost every time made me think "can we instead maybe see her eyes well up or her trying to hold tears in or her vision getting blurry or . . . just some indication of crying without one tear coming out of one eye?" And while I appreciated that angels aren't humans and they have their own ways of expressing themselves, I found it distracting that their wings were described over and over again in accordance with their emotions. It was clear that angels DO make facial expressions and do stuff like cross their arms, so all the wing-flaring and wing-raising and wing-tensing and whatnot felt a little too relied upon for conveying the angels' emotional states while reminding us they're angels. And I thought in comparison to the long lead-up to battling the A'nwel, the ending of the book was so swift that it felt like it landed somewhere short of the finish line I was expecting. Julia brought up some questions and implications while hunting the thing and I felt like they were being built up for the climax, but I guess they're being delivered in the sequel, not the resolution.
Other thoughts: I really like that there was a car accident on, like, page two, sucking us in immediately so Julia does something and makes us care--throws a mystery at us and doesn't make us wait around. And I like that she feels so conflicted about her dad being the Archangel Gabriel, and that finding him wasn't some saccharine completion for her. I like that one time Michael was pulled away from all the duties he was performing simultaneously and he had to reinstate those processes, which made me think he must live a lot like a Web browser with too many tabs open--processing power spread too thinly, having to try to recover them if they're lost. I liked that Julia's depression and history was revealed naturally when wanting to live after the accident felt foreign to her. I like that after weird things happened she wanted to confide in her best friend but realistically flip-flopped on what to reveal. I liked the foreshadowing techniques. I liked when the angels argued about how to contact Julia, though all the mentions of them literally standing on clouds and parting them to look down struck me as--I guess just weird, and so picturesque that I sort of wanted it to be something less storybookish to match the grittiness of the rest. (At least nobody sat around with a harp while singing, though.)
I'm not sure how I feel about an angel appearing to outright mock evolution at one point, but I guess the Biblical origins of their characters would kinda lead to that. (But since their version of reality did allow for different depictions of God all being "real," I'm not sure why the "monkeys, really?" scoffing happened.) Oh, and here's something else I thought was clever: Julia did a lot of things the angels didn't really expect (or even fully understand), so they acted a lot like humans do when they don't comprehend what's going on. They feared her, essentially, and flipped out when she kept doing things they thought she shouldn't have been able to do. There was one bit of foreshadowing (with four characters getting employment interviews and three of them just not showing up, with the fourth being a creepy guy) that I was relieved the story didn't try to bury it and hide it from me; Julia immediately figured something HAD to be up with a bunch of no-shows on interviews. (I'm a little confused about what ended up going on with this guy, though--what the full story was behind why he did what he did.) And I like the book's presentation of free will; since they state that Julia does what she does partly because she can, they're implying that they, as angels, aren't actually free at all, which is sort of sad and intriguing.
And finally, I liked that at its heart the story was about relationships--with our significant others, our closest friends, our parents, our heroes, ourselves. I especially liked the resolution of Julia's relationship with Gabriel. For her whole life she'd yearned for a family, and when she got part of hers back she couldn't stop being angry at him for his failure to protect her, his absence from her life, and his continued refusal to be human enough for her. I like that it is mostly Michael who is more fatherly to her throughout the book, and that there is some acknowledgment of the hurt, the comfort, and the bond she and Gabriel have together without putting a bow on it and making her a complete person and all that stuff stories like this often do to damaged women with daddy issues. It's really pretty unique in that regard, and I appreciate that a lot.
And one more thing: I see you with your coffee-obsessed protagonist, Michelle. ;)
October 6, 2014
DIVINITY Review
I’m usually always up for a good angel series. I probably enjoy those second after vampire books. So the premise of this one was particularly interesting. The world building itself has a fair amount of potential. I think some things could have been fleshed out a bit more because there were a few instances that felt like info-dumping to me. There were some issues that may be hard to swallow for some readers, especially a certain plot point relating to domestic abuse. That topic has been hot in the media as of late (ie: the Ray Rice situation), so I found myself particularly invested in that outcome. The author seemed to have quite a bit of knowledge about the situation so it played out realistically.
I wasn’t crazy about the romance aspect here. I actually think the book would have been fine without it. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between Julia and her boyfriend, and to be fair, when it comes to supernatural series I find that human book boyfriends are at a disadvantage by default (poor Nick from The Hollows never stood a chance for me honestly). That said, I think there are other potential on the horizon there for future installments. Overall, if you haven’t read a lot of angel novels then this will probably feel like a fresh read. While it wasn’t bad, for me it did lack a fresh factor, but I do think the next books could be promising. I would give a sequel a try because some of the characters were interesting and there are some interesting paths where this story can go.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
I’m usually always up for a good angel series. I probably enjoy those second after vampire books. So the premise of this one was particularly interesting. The world building itself has a fair amount of potential. I think some things could have been fleshed out a bit more because there were a few instances that felt like info-dumping to me. There were some issues that may be hard to swallow for some readers, especially a certain plot point relating to domestic abuse. That topic has been hot in the media as of late (ie: the Ray Rice situation), so I found myself particularly invested in that outcome. The author seemed to have quite a bit of knowledge about the situation so it played out realistically.
I wasn’t crazy about the romance aspect here. I actually think the book would have been fine without it. I just didn’t feel the chemistry between Julia and her boyfriend, and to be fair, when it comes to supernatural series I find that human book boyfriends are at a disadvantage by default (poor Nick from The Hollows never stood a chance for me honestly). That said, I think there are other potential on the horizon there for future installments. Overall, if you haven’t read a lot of angel novels then this will probably feel like a fresh read. While it wasn’t bad, for me it did lack a fresh factor, but I do think the next books could be promising. I would give a sequel a try because some of the characters were interesting and there are some interesting paths where this story can go.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review
September 26, 2014
I have mixed feelings about this book. The cover was intriguing and obviously the main female character is an angel. This made me excited because I haven’t read a really great angel book series since Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. Divinity pulled my emotions in immediately when the main character, Julia, saves a small child from a burning car. She of course miraculously walks away from the scene without a scratch but is left wondering why? The story unfolds from there with some gut wrenching twists and turns. This author definitely likes to kill off characters. This book is definitely not YA, but read like one in the beginning.
My mixed feelings come from the amount of plot and background information that happens during this book. It felt like it got a bit rushed at the end and some of the information just got dumped too quickly. A second reading of this book would probably help me to enjoy the book more. The angels also have a very “christian” background which might bother non-religious readers but I didn’t mind it. There were some great pop culture references, like Princess Diana being an angel. :)
Overall, good writing with a really original take on angels. Creativity is definitely a strong aspect of this book. I would recommend this book to older YA or any adults that read YA.
My mixed feelings come from the amount of plot and background information that happens during this book. It felt like it got a bit rushed at the end and some of the information just got dumped too quickly. A second reading of this book would probably help me to enjoy the book more. The angels also have a very “christian” background which might bother non-religious readers but I didn’t mind it. There were some great pop culture references, like Princess Diana being an angel. :)
Overall, good writing with a really original take on angels. Creativity is definitely a strong aspect of this book. I would recommend this book to older YA or any adults that read YA.
November 4, 2014
I want to say thank you to NetGalley for approving my request at a copy of this book to read and review.
Julia, heroically saves a child from burning in a car crash. From that moment on, we know she’s special, and things start happening, weird and unexplainable things. This story has twists and turns, and you are captivated as you slowly begin to learn who Julia really is, and what kinds of powers she holds within her.
It was anything but predictable and from one page to the next, it drew me in. I could barely put it down; I had to know what happened next. A good book will make you become emotionally invested in its characters and this book did just that.
I smiled, I giggled, I gasped, and even felt a little teary throughout the story
The storyline in this was pretty good, but the pace was really slow. Thankfully I enjoyed the story so the pace didn’t bother me too much, but it was still very slow.
Divinity was a beautifully told story filled with love, pain, self-discovery, strength, and hope. I'm definitely looking forward to the next instalment!!
Julia, heroically saves a child from burning in a car crash. From that moment on, we know she’s special, and things start happening, weird and unexplainable things. This story has twists and turns, and you are captivated as you slowly begin to learn who Julia really is, and what kinds of powers she holds within her.
It was anything but predictable and from one page to the next, it drew me in. I could barely put it down; I had to know what happened next. A good book will make you become emotionally invested in its characters and this book did just that.
I smiled, I giggled, I gasped, and even felt a little teary throughout the story
The storyline in this was pretty good, but the pace was really slow. Thankfully I enjoyed the story so the pace didn’t bother me too much, but it was still very slow.
Divinity was a beautifully told story filled with love, pain, self-discovery, strength, and hope. I'm definitely looking forward to the next instalment!!
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